Joni Mitchell - travelogue

[Umma]

Its hard to approach a double CD that tracks a whole songbook, re-cast as orchestral pieces, with anything but a sense of trepidation. And when bassist, co-producer and ex-partner Larry Klein tells you that: "...we have tried to maintain the same challenging spirit of adventure that has always been a part of [Joni's] music...take the time to let these versions of Joni's songs slowly wash over you'', you know that Travelogue isn't going to be an easy ride. You'd be right, too. Mitchell professes to be disgusted with the contemporary music scene and this is a supposed swansong. In summing up her career, this icon of cerebral West Coast songcraft has produced a substantial body of work without one iota of sentimentality.

One look at the musicians on offer here - Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Billy Preston, Billy Blades - gives one a distinct message: this is not music for idiots. This turns out to be both the album's strength and weakness. For all of her heavy friends, Travelogue can make for some heavy going. As on the previous Both Sides Now, Joni pitches her wonderfully matured (as in a fine wine) voice against an orchestra and becomes an interpretive singer; but this time of her own work. From Song To A Seagull all the way to Turbulent Indigo, songs are re-tooled and re-contextualized.

In most cases the results take a while to sink in, approaching a cumulative ambience that resists analysis. However, once the finer points are exposed it's plain that there's much to appreciate. Subtle arrangements frame Mitchell's lyrics in a new light, making more recent work such as ''Sex Kills'' and ''Borderline'' seem even more like the tone poems she's obviously keen to move towards. Her jazz leanings are easily catered for by the stellar cast and one can't help but be impressed by tracks that swing as well as ''Be Cool'' or ''You Dream Flat Tires''.

It's when the Mitchell classics are attempted that listener tolerance is put to the test. Songs as historically contextualized as ''Woodstock'' or ''The Circle Game'' would probably be safer in the hands of others. Under her they merely turn from pointillistic snapshots into abstract expressionism. Vast swathes of strings add little to the original impact of the song.

As a touchstone of musical intelligence Joni's position is beyond question. However her stance over the last few years has veered towards the specious philosophy that older forms such as jazz or classical equate to more serious vehicles for her dissections of modern America. The fact remains that by the time of Hissing Of The Summer Lawns she was beyond this need for critical validity and, as such, Travelogue often smacks too much of revisionism. That said it's still head and shoulders above anything her contemporaries have offered us recently. And that's something we really should be grateful for. Let's hope it's not the last...

Reviewer: Chris Jones

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/classicpop/revi...ravelogue.shtml

[DudeAsInCool]

What year was this released? And since JM crosses music boundaries-fok/rock/jazz, wouldnt this be better suited in alternative?

[Umma]

End of 2002 as far as I'm aware.... I had an advance copy :)

[Kooperman]

What year was this released? And since JM crosses music boundaries-fok/rock/jazz, wouldnt this be better suited in alternative?

she's more jazz than anything, Dude

[Umma]

Feel free to move it... I couldnt make my mind up where to put it

[DudeAsInCool]

Well, she is now, but shes posted under rock - that was my pt

[Umma]

blues/jazz didnt seem right either considering the stuff already in there..... 'contemporary' maybe

or contemporarybluesjazzrockswingilero easy...

or just Joni Mitchell.... if Kooperman can have his own group I think Joni should have her own forum :P

[DudeAsInCool]

I moved it to Pop - NYTimes catch-all term

[Kooperman]

mercy

[Umma]

POP?????????????? ugh

[MikeHunt]

DAIC...this is exactly what we discussed the other day./hmmmm

[DudeAsInCool]

What did we discuss?

Look guys, not all music is really possible to peg in one forum or another--the forums are adapting.. Look above and see how many categories you wanted to place her in :) :jammintwo:

[Kooperman]

I think "Contemporary" is a good place to put that album...but if you called Joni Mitchell a 'Pop" artist, she'd put on her beret and come kick your butt!

[DudeAsInCool]

I dont think she ever complained about her ny times pop reviews :D

[Umma]

Now now children.... play nice!!

Pop definitely doesn't describe Joni Mitchell in the sense that 'pop' has become teeny boy band gushey ultra commercial crap, but she would have fitted into that pop bracket at one time last century when pop was in the 'hey maaan' era.

I agree with dude... it's hard to fit everything into neat little boxes.... and it's especially hard to put something into a box that doesn't exist.

Listen to Travelogue and stay calm

:rightonman:

[-medusa-]

maybe folk, folk/blues would work. her music in the 70's & 80's seemed to fit that category a bit more. her later/more recent music trends to the jazz side.

:groovin:

[joeyz]

I agree... If I had to place it anywhere I would say folk.... but who would want to do something crazy like that... I am glad it's not my job... I'll leave all the nit-picky placement to The Dude. :strumma:

[Umma]

Nope.... it's definitely NOT folk

Folk music is all about picking turnips and wearing your national costume :P

[joeyz]

haha Umma

[DudeAsInCool]

I think all the answers are correct. We will use contemporary--some of the older albums will be put in folk, etc